Ashley Padilla’s screen career is still relatively short, but her path to television’s biggest comedy stage has been unusually varied. Before joining Saturday Night Live, she trained with The Groundlings, appeared in Son of Zorn, Shithouse, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Night Court, and worked as Diane Keaton’s assistant. She joined SNL as a featured player in 2024 and remains part of the cast heading into its 52nd season in 2026.
Her filmography is also beginning to expand. She appeared in the independent films Shithouse, Summer Camp and Grapefruit, while her next major movie, The Catch, is scheduled for May 21, 2027.
Who is Ashley Padilla?
Ashley Padilla is an American actress and comedian who developed her performance style through Los Angeles’ live-comedy scene before moving into television and film.
The Groundlings lists Padilla as part of its Main Company. The comedy institution has been an important training ground for performers who later move into television, and Padilla’s background there is particularly relevant to understanding her work on SNL.
Her early career was not built around a long succession of starring television roles. Instead, Padilla spent years performing, writing and developing characters before landing larger opportunities. That makes her current SNL position a useful marker of how her career has developed rather than a sudden first acting credit.
What Movies Has Ashley Padilla Appeared In?
The main Ashley Padilla movies released so far are Shithouse (2020), Summer Camp (2024) and Grapefruit (2025). She is also attached to the upcoming The Catch, scheduled for 2027.
|
Movie |
Year |
Role |
Status |
|
Shithouse |
2020 |
DG |
Released |
|
Summer Camp |
2024 |
Amber |
Released |
|
Grapefruit |
2025 |
Sarah |
Released |
|
The Catch |
2027 |
Emma Stone’s character’s sister |
Upcoming |
Shithouse (2020)
Shithouse was Padilla’s earliest feature-film acting credit. Cooper Raiff wrote and directed the coming-of-age comedy-drama, which follows a lonely college freshman whose decision to attend a fraternity party leads to an unexpected connection. Padilla plays DG.
The film became notable beyond its modest production because it was Raiff’s breakthrough feature and received strong critical reviews. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists a 95% critics’ score for Shithouse.
Summer Camp (2024)
In Summer Camp, Padilla plays Amber alongside Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard.
The film is particularly interesting in the context of Padilla’s career because she had previously worked as Keaton’s assistant. That connection was part of the unusual route that brought Padilla into the entertainment industry before she established herself as a performer.
Grapefruit (2025)
Padilla plays Sarah in Grapefruit, an independent feature written and directed by Chase Joliet. The film was released in the United States on December 18, 2025.
Unlike her television work on SNL, Grapefruit gives Padilla a conventional narrative-film credit, making it useful for viewers trying to trace her work beyond sketch comedy.
Which Ashley Padilla Films Are Coming Next?
The most significant upcoming title is The Catch, a Universal romantic comedy directed by Dave McCary and starring Emma Stone and Chris Pine.
Padilla joined the cast in 2026 and plays the sister of Stone’s character, according to entertainment-industry reports. Universal has set the film’s U.S. theatrical release for May 21, 2027.
The project is a notable next step because it places Padilla in a studio feature alongside established stars after her rise through live comedy and television.
Universal’s published release schedule also confirms the May 21, 2027 date.
What TV Shows Has Ashley Padilla Appeared In?
Her television acting credits before SNL include Son of Zorn, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Night Court. She also appeared in television specials, including Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas.
Son of Zorn (2016–2017)
Padilla appeared in two episodes of Fox’s hybrid animated/live-action comedy Son of Zorn. She played Radiana IRL and Headbutt Girl IRL. The series was one of her earliest television acting credits.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2024)
Padilla appeared as Dana in the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode “Fish Stuck,” part of the show’s 12th and final season. The role placed her in one of television’s best-known improvisational comedy environments.
Night Court (2024)
She played Mitzi in the Night Court episode “Broadway Danny Gurgs.” Like her Curb Your Enthusiasm appearance, the role was a single-episode credit that came shortly before her SNL breakthrough.
Why is Saturday Night Live the Key Credit in Her Career?
Saturday Night Live is currently Padilla’s most important television role because it has given her a recurring national platform for both character acting and sketch writing.
NBC announced Padilla as one of three new featured players for the show’s 50th season in 2024, alongside Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline.
Her work on the program has included original characters and sketches rather than a single recurring role. IMDb currently lists dozens of SNL appearances for her across the 2024–2026 period.
Padilla’s Groundlings background is relevant here. The Groundlings describes her as a member of its Main Company, giving her years of experience in character-driven live comedy before she reached network television.
Her SNL work has also expanded beyond performing. Padilla co-wrote the “Passing Notes” sketch with Streeter Seidell, Mikey Day and Alison Gates, a detail she discussed after a widely noticed on-air break during a sketch with Ryan Gosling.
What Else Has She Appeared In?
Padilla’s screen work extends beyond traditional movies and television episodes.
Her credits include:
- SNL50: The Anniversary Special (2025), where she appeared as a guest at a wedding.
- The Lonely Island ft. Charli XCX: Here I Go (2024), in which she played a bystander woman.
- Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas, a television special in which she played the Virgin Mary.
- Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she appeared as herself.
One credit that should be separated from her acting filmography is Arthur’s Whisky. TV Guide and other databases list Padilla in connection with the film, but her credited position was earwig operator, a sound-department role rather than an acting performance.
Ashley Padilla’s Screen Career at a Glance
The progression is clearer when her credits are viewed chronologically:
2016–2017: Television appearances begin with Son of Zorn.
2020: Feature-film acting debut in Shithouse.
2024: Guest roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Night Court, followed by her SNL debut and Summer Camp.
2025: Grapefruit and SNL50: The Anniversary Special.
2026: Continued SNL work as the show moves into season 52.
2027: The Catch is scheduled to reach theaters.
NBC confirmed in September 2026 that Padilla is among the returning cast members for SNL’s 52nd season.
What Should You Watch First?
For someone discovering Padilla’s work, the best starting point depends on what they want to see.
|
If you want… |
Start with… |
Why |
|
Her early film work |
Shithouse |
Her first major feature acting credit |
|
A studio comedy |
Summer Camp |
Puts her alongside Keaton, Bates and Woodard |
|
Independent film |
Grapefruit |
A later narrative-film role |
|
Sketch comedy |
Saturday Night Live |
Her largest ongoing television platform |
|
Earlier TV work |
Son of Zorn |
One of her first television credits |
|
Guest comedy roles |
Curb Your Enthusiasm |
A single-episode appearance in the show’s final season |
What Comes Next for Ashley Padilla?
The clearest next milestone is The Catch. The film is currently scheduled for a May 21, 2027 theatrical release, with Emma Stone and Chris Pine leading the cast and Dave McCary directing. Padilla’s role gives her a supporting part in a major Universal feature.
Her trajectory also suggests that her career is expanding beyond performance alone. She has spoken publicly about writing and has continued developing comedy alongside acting. That combination is consistent with her Groundlings background, where performers develop characters and material rather than simply interpret scripts.
For now, Saturday Night Live remains the central part of her screen career. Her film credits are fewer, but they show a progression from an independent 2020 comedy to larger studio work. The next chapter will be The Catch, while her continued SNL appearances provide the most regular opportunity to see her perform.
Ashley Padilla Movies and TV Shows: Quick Answer
The released Ashley Padilla movies are Shithouse (2020), Summer Camp (2024) and Grapefruit (2025). Her major TV shows include Son of Zorn, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Night Court and Saturday Night Live. Her next announced feature is The Catch, scheduled for May 21, 2027.
